Jump to content
IGNORED

The golf swing is a rotational swing


Note: This thread is 3123 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Recommended Posts

A former co-worker (70's shooter) once told me, that the golf swing is a rotational swing. I kind of knew what he meant. But, not really. Recently my pro told me I am lifting and swaying with no turn. Now, it clicked. I should be rotating my chest on the backswing and rotating through on my down swing - hitting the ball with my pivot? My question is, can you play good golf (in the 80's, for me) with this swing? Can you play good golf with no lower body key on the downswing. Ie: hip bump, swing from the ground up? Cheers, SG

Link to comment
Share on other sites


A former co-worker (70's shooter) once told me, that the golf swing is a rotational swing. I kind of knew what he meant. But, not really. Recently my pro told me I am lifting and swaying with no turn. Now, it clicked. I should be rotating my chest on the backswing and rotating through on my down swing - hitting the ball with my pivot? My question is, can you play good golf (in the 80's, for me) with this swing? Can you play good golf with no lower body key on the downswing. Ie: hip bump, swing from the ground up? Cheers, SG

You need to use the lower body for a good swing, but that doesn't mean you need to actively think about it. As long as you're not over-doing it with your current swing thought the legs should be reacting naturally to the rest of your action.

:callaway: Big Bertha Alpha 815 DBD  :bridgestone: TD-03 Putter   
:tmade: 300 Tour 3W                 :true_linkswear: Motion Shoes
:titleist: 585H Hybrid                       
:tmade: TP MC irons                 
:ping: Glide 54             
:ping: Glide 58
:cleveland: 588 RTX 62

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

You need to use the lower body for a good swing, but that doesn't mean you need to actively think about it. As long as you're not over-doing it with your current swing thought the legs should be reacting naturally to the rest of your action.

Thanks, SavvySwede. It would be wonderful if the lower body engagement, happened on it's own. When I throw a baseball or football, it does happen naturally,

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I must work, work, work with a golf swing ... it is not natural to me, perhaps because of previous instruction from the late-90's that I haven't forgotten until recently to change the picture.

Haney instructors of the late 90's told me the body will react naturally on the downswing .... mine did not. I wasn't savvy enough to recognize what one must do. Oh, yes, a little weight will move forward, but you must put yourself in position to get 85-95%  (estimated) of it forward at ball impact.

Ping G400 Max 9/TPT Shaft, TEE EX10 Beta 4, 5 wd, PXG 22 HY, Mizuno JPX919F 5-GW, TItleist SM7 Raw 55-09, 59-11, Bettinardi BB39

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Thanks, SavvySwede. It would be wonderful if the lower body engagement, happened on it's own. When I throw a baseball or football, it does happen naturally,

Most golfers struggle with turning enough on the backswing and downswing. PGA Tour players are typically have their hips open 25-30 degrees at impact. You can get someone like Rory who has his hips 60 degrees open.

As for what the golfer feels, it depends. For a good 3-4 months I had to make swings just feeling I was driving my right side more towards the target. I am much more right side oriented so I really don't feel the hip bump or left hip turn.

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
 fasdfa dfdsaf 

What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: 
:titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
Bag: :ping:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Moderator
Can you play good golf with no lower body key on the downswing. Ie: hip bump, swing from the ground up? Cheers, SG

No. :-)

Thanks, SavvySwede. It would be wonderful if the lower body engagement, happened on it's own. When I throw a baseball or football, it does happen naturally,

You learned how to engage the lower body when throwing a ball when you learned how to throw a ball. Using the lower body may have not been specified but you figured it out. Either by observation, trial and error, someone giving you feedback or a combo of all three.

Mike McLoughlin

Check out my friends on Evolvr!
Follow The Sand Trap on Twitter!  and on Facebook
Golf Terminology -  Analyzr  -  My FacebookTwitter and Instagram 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

No.

Especially since Key 1 helps with Key 2 which helps with Key 3 and so on.

So not nailing those early keys making really hard to hit consistent shots.

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
 fasdfa dfdsaf 

What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: 
:titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
Bag: :ping:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Moderator

Especially since Key 1 helps with Key 2 which helps with Key 3 and so on.

So not nailing those early keys making really hard to hit consistent shots.

Yes and to do Key #1 properly you need to turn your torso and hips. With Key #2 you need to transfer the lower body and rotate.

Mike McLoughlin

Check out my friends on Evolvr!
Follow The Sand Trap on Twitter!  and on Facebook
Golf Terminology -  Analyzr  -  My FacebookTwitter and Instagram 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

I think it's been discussed before, but I'm not a fan of the "slot." It's the Bermuda Triangle for me. When I laterally move my hips to the right (I'm leftie) it does nothing to my arms. They don't drop into any slot. I think I need to take some swings from parallel back to parallel through and learn this proper rotation. From the 5SK disc 1 I do the stretching up my left side and compressing my right which just leads me to plow the ground about 6" behind the ball.

:ping: G25 Driver Stiff :ping: G20 3W, 5W :ping: S55 4-W (aerotech steel fiber 110g shafts) :ping: Tour Wedges 50*, 54*, 58* :nike: Method Putter Floating clubs: :edel: 54* trapper wedge

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Moderator

From the 5SK disc 1 I do the stretching up my left side and compressing my right which just leads me to plow the ground about 6" behind the ball.

You might already bend enough or stretch enough, so feeling it more could cause problems. The dvd is just describing what happens in a good golf swing, not necessarily what you need to feel or focus on.

Mike McLoughlin

Check out my friends on Evolvr!
Follow The Sand Trap on Twitter!  and on Facebook
Golf Terminology -  Analyzr  -  My FacebookTwitter and Instagram 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

A former co-worker (70's shooter) once told me, that the golf swing is a rotational swing. I kind of knew what he meant. But, not really. Recently my pro told me I am lifting and swaying with no turn. Now, it clicked. I should be rotating my chest on the backswing and rotating through on my down swing - hitting the ball with my pivot? My question is, can you play good golf (in the 80's, for me) with this swing? Can you play good golf with no lower body key on the downswing. Ie: hip bump, swing from the ground up? Cheers, SG

I can play like this when I hitting the ball off the turf. But I find I have to use my hips whenever I tee up the ball. Also I find I can get some more club head swing speed if I can time my hips and lower body with my the rest of my body in proper sequence

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I can play like this when I hitting the ball off the turf. But I find I have to use my hips whenever I tee up the ball. Also I find I can get some more club head swing speed if I can time my hips and lower body with my the rest of my body in proper sequence

I find the same thing. The balls goes further involving the lower body when the ball is teed up and there seems to be more time to do it. On the ground, just swinging works best. Have you tried

mixing the two for a long period of time? SG

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I find the same thing. The balls goes further involving the lower body when the ball is teed up and there seems to be more time to do it. On the ground, just swinging works best. Have you tried mixing the two for a long period of time? SG

For all shots off the turf I don't really think about my lower body, they move with my swing. Out of green side bunkers and intentional fat shots around the green I will deliberate preset my hips so I can hit fat and I do have to think about my lower body at set up With the tee ball, I initiate my hips from the top of my backswing as a conscious thought so my hips are moving forward as I complete my backswing with my upper body

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I used to screw with my hips especially my left hip but it was endless. I then went to upper body turning with the emphasis on my foot connection with the earth and staying in balance throughout the swing. I no longer mess with the hips they just do what they need to do..

I believe the key to everything is total balance from beginning to the end of the swing...If I don't have that balance it sets up all sorts of problems that you may/may not be aware of..

I stared by concentrating on my rear pushing back to balance the force of my arms and club swinging and my foot connection with the ground...

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I used to screw with my hips especially my left hip but it was endless. I then went to upper body turning with the emphasis on my foot connection with the earth and staying in balance throughout the swing. I no longer mess with the hips they just do what they need to do..

I believe the key to everything is total balance from beginning to the end of the swing...If I don't have that balance it sets up all sorts of problems that you may/may not be aware of..

I stared by concentrating on my rear pushing back to balance the force of my arms and club swinging and my foot connection with the ground...

Did you see Bubba Watson swing into the drivable par 4 this past weekend? His feet were hardly grounded. I guess there are always different ways of doing it. But, then again - he is not the norm.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • 2 weeks later...
There's an interesting take by Kelvin Miyahira about the chi line in golf that goes from the left foot up the back and side of the head. To deliver your maximum power on the downswing particularly with longer clubs you to rotate on that line as closely as possibly. Some players with too much of a slide forward or get their left hip outside the foot struggle with power because they have lost optimum balance in the swing.He calls it a hip stall and the only thing left is for hands to save it with some kind of flip. Very intriguing to read about and investigate.

"Repetition is the chariot of genius"

Driver: BENROSS VX PROTO 10.5
Woods: BENROSS QUAD SPEED FAIRWAY 15"
Hybrids:BENROSS 3G 17" BENROSSV5 Escape 20"
Irons: :wilson: DEEP RED Fluid Feel  4-SW
Putter: BENROSS PURE RED
Balls: :wilsonstaff:  Ti DNA

Link to comment
Share on other sites


There's an interesting take by Kelvin Miyahira about the chi line in golf that goes from the left foot up the back and side of the head. To deliver your maximum power on the downswing particularly with longer clubs you to rotate on that line as closely as possibly. Some players with too much of a slide forward or get their left hip outside the foot struggle with power because they have lost optimum balance in the swing.He calls it a hip stall and the only thing left is for hands to save it with some kind of flip. Very intriguing to read about and investigate.

@Iacas, @mvmac....your thoughts?

:ping: G25 Driver Stiff :ping: G20 3W, 5W :ping: S55 4-W (aerotech steel fiber 110g shafts) :ping: Tour Wedges 50*, 54*, 58* :nike: Method Putter Floating clubs: :edel: 54* trapper wedge

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Administrator
@Iacas, @mvmac....your thoughts?

I'm just arriving in Arizona for the Newport Cup but my quick thoughts are that the golf swing certainly involves a lot more than generating the most power possible.

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Note: This thread is 3123 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    TourStriker PlaneMate
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FlightScope Mevo
    Direct: Mevo, Mevo+, and Pro Package.

    Coupon Codes (save 10-15%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope.
  • Posts

    • I kind of like this interpretation especially if you think about it the unplayable rule would probably put you in a better spot.  using back on the line releief.  
    • I did not realize that, I was thinking a more traditional golf club.  
    • Thanks for the feedback. @StuM, we are a "club without real estate" so no facilities or pro. We have a membership of around 185 players and we only play together as a group at our tournaments, which are held at public access courses. A group of us setup the tournaments, collect the money and dole out the prizes.
    • In general, granting free relief anywhere on the course isn't recommended.  Similarly, when marking GUR, the VSGA and MAPGA generally don't mark areas that are well away from the intended playing lines, no matter how poor the conditions.  If you hit it far enough offline, you don't necessarily deserve free relief.  And you don't have to damage clubs, take unplayable relief, take the stroke, and drop the ball in a better spot.
    • If it's not broken don't fix it. If you want to add grooves to it just because of looks that's your choice of course. Grooves are cut into putter faces to reduce skid, the roll faced putter is designed to do the same thing. I'm no expert but it seems counter productive to add grooves to the roll face. Maybe you can have it sand-blasted or something to clean up the face. Take a look at Tigers putter, its beat to hell but he still uses it.     
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

The popup will be closed in 10 seconds...